Java Python WELF1003 Human Services Intervention Strategies
Spring 2024
1 About Human Services Intervention Strategies
1.1 An Introduction to this Subject
This is an introductory subject which examines underlying theories of social welfare work, community work, youth work and international social development. Students will explore the ideological underpinnings of theories and discourses in the human services, particularly with regard to the impact of poverty, inequity and the experience of vulnerable populations. The contribution of other disciplines to knowledge and practice in these fields of practice will also be examined. This subject will focus on developing beginning assessment and intervention skills in working with individuals, groups, and communities. Students will also develop an understanding of ethical issues related to social work practise and working in human service organisations as a member of a team.
1.2 What is Expected of You
Study Load
A student is expected to study an hour per credit point a week. For example a 10 credit point subject would require
10 hours of study per week. This time includes the time spent within classes during lectures, tutorials or practicals.
Note for Summer Terms: As Summer subjects deliver the same content and classes over a shorter period of time, the subjects are run in a more intensive mode. Regardless of the delivery mode, the study hours for each subject in Summer will be around 30 hours.
Attendance
To ensure compliance with accreditation guidelines, students are expected to attend all classes. Attendance records are kept for sessions and students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of all tutorials/workshops. Where attendance is affected due to illness or misadventure an application for special consideration will need to be lodged. Failure to comply may result in a failure of the subject.
Reference: Standard 4.2.1, Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS) (2012) v.1.4 Revised January 2015
Approach to Learning
Delivery: The subject is delivered by means of a 1 -hour pre-recorded lecture and a 2-hour face-to-face on campus tutorial every week.
Attendance: To ensure compliance with accreditation guidelines, students are expected to attend all classes. Atten- dance records are kept for sessions and students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of all tutorials/workshops. Where attendance is affected due to illness or misadventure, an application for special consideration will need to be lodged. Failure to comply may result in a failing the subject.
Online Learning Requirements
Subject materials will be made available on the subject’s vUWS (E-Learning) site (https://vuws.westernsydney.edu. au/). You are expected to consult vUWS at least twice a week, as all subject announcements will be made via vUWS. Teaching and learning materials will be regularly updated and posted online by the teaching team.
Special Requirements
Essential Equipment:
Not Applicable
Legislative Pre-Requisites:
Not Applicable
1.3 Changes to Subject as a Result of Past Student Feedback
The University values student feedback in order to improve the quality of its educational programs. The feedback provided helps us improve teaching methods and subjects of study. The survey subjects results inform subject content and design, Subject Outlines, teaching methods, assessment processes and teaching materials.
You are welcome to provide feedback that is related to the teaching of this subject. At the end of the semester you will be given the opportunity to complete a Student Feedback on Subject questionnaire to assess the subject. If requested by your subject coordinator, you may also have the opportunity to complete a Student Feedback on Teaching (SFT) questionnaire to provide feedback for individual teaching staff.
As a result of student feedback, the following changes and improvements to this Subject have recently been made:
– -The task for Assessment 2 has been changed from watching a video to engaging students in a practical advocacy project. This task will be the basis for writing Assessment 2, which is a report on group work.
2 Learning and Teaching Activities
Teaching Weeks | Lecture | Tutorial | Readings | Audio-Visual | Assessment Due |
Week 1 22-07-2024 | Module 1: A brief Introduction to Human Services in Contemporary Australia.
(Pre-recorded lecture can be accessed via the vUWS site) | Class introductions Engage and participate in activities aimed at enhancing students’ understanding of human services design/organisation, structure and funding in Australia, and the implications for equity and social justice. (Refer to the vUWS site for more details) | Schram., B, Mandell, B.R, Dann, P.L, & Peterson, L. (2020). An Introduction to Human Services: Policy and Practice (The Merrill Social Work and Human Services) 9th Edition. Hoboken, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. (Chapter 1, pp 1-17 & Chapter 2, pp 46-53) | Nations United: Urgent Solutions for Urgent Times | Presented by Thandie Newton (2020). https://www.youtube.com/ watchv=xVWHuJOmaEk https://www.youtube.com/ watch?=xVWHuJOmaEk Putting human caring back into social services | Richard Aston | TEDxAuck- land;(2016).https://www. youtube.com/watch?v= SgguRmmHbgA | - Quizzes |
3 Assessment Information
3.1 Subject Learning Outcomes
| Outcome |
1 | Describe theories, concepts and models underpinning social work and community welfare work. |
2 | Develop assessment and intervention skills or working with individuals, groups and communities within a context of the inequitable distribution of wealth and power. |
3 | Apply ethical issues related to working with individuals, groups and communities. |
4 | Apply professional decision making in the organisational contexts. |
3.2 Assessment Summary
The assessment items in this subject are designed to enable you to demonstrate that you have achieved the subject learning outcomes. Completion and submission of all assessment items which have been designated as mandatory or compulsory is essential to receive a passing grade.
To pass this subject you must:
Students must attempt and complete the three assessment tasks in WELF1003 in order to be eligible to pass the subject; regardless of the aggregate mark you achieve across the three assessments, to avoid failure by non-submission. Students require a minimum aggregate mark of 50% to pass the subject.
Before you receive your results for each piece of assessment, they may be moderated. Moderation is a process whereby the subject coordinator regulates the marking of individual markers to achieve consistency in the application of subject objectives, performance standards and marking criteria. Marks for an individual piece of assessment will not be changed after you have your mark or grade. You should note that, consistent with the Criteria and Standards Based Assessment policy, the final marks for the cohort may be also adjusted if results are very high or low or there are inconsistencies between groups General submission requirements: Students are to keep a copy of all assignments submitted for marking.
All requests for extension should be made via WesternNow Student Portal
Item | Weight | Due Date | SLOs Assessed | Manda- tory | Threshold |
Quizzes | 20% | Weekly | 1, 2, 3, 4 | Yes | No |
Report | 40% | Friday, 6th September 2024, by 11.59pm | 1, 2, 3 | Yes | No |
Case Study | 40% | Friday, 11th October 2024, by 11.59pm | 2, 3, 4 | Yes | No |
Feedback on Assessment
Feedback is an important part of the learning process that can improve your progress towards achieving the learning outcomes. Feedback is any written or spoken response made in relation to academic work such as an assessment task, a performance or product. It can be given to you by a teacher, an external assessor or student peer, and may be given individually or to a group of students. As a Western Sydney University student, it is your responsibility to seek out and act on feedback that is provided to you as a resource to further your learning